While Manipur Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren and a section Manipur society consider that the scrapping of Free Movment Regime (FMR) and fencing of the Indo-Myanmar border will address the issue of influx of Myanmar nationals illegally to Manipur, protest erupts over the border fencing plan in Manipur’s Kamjong district along Indo-Myanmar border.
According to reports, border villages under Kamjong Block have strongly opposed the border survey in their areas to construct the Indo-Myanmar border fencing. The village headmen and local leaders are said to have blocked the border survey team in the afternoon on October 23 at Ramphei village when the team was on the way back to Imphal for some time and warned them not to conduct the border survey.
Different village associations in Kamjong have also expressed their opposition to the move of the Government to contruct fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border. They also said that the border survey was conducted without their knowledge and the traditional boundary has been altered. They opposed the government’s plan to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Indo-Myanmar border fencing project.
GREF has also been entrusted to prepare DPR for fencing of Indo-Myanmar border from BP 110 to BP 116 (Chasad/Kamjong) covering a distance of 26.10 Kms; BP 116 to Bp 124 (Chasad/Kamjong) covering a distance of 30.30 Km; BP 124 to BP 125 in Ukhrul (23.20 Km) and BP 125 to 130 in Ukhrul (31.50 Km) as per the letter.
On the other hand, reports said on October 24, though the official vehicles turned back from the said junction but they were allowed to inspect and assess the first-hand reports at the border areas of Phaikok and Thana villages in the same district.
Notably, the Naga People’s Front (NPF), the alliance partner of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on October 23 said that they strongly opposed the proposal for construction of Indo-Myanmar border fencing in the Naga-dominated areas of Manipur along Indo-Myanmar Border.
In a statement, NPF General Secretary Honreikhui Kashung said the party opposes fencing the border in the Naga-dominated areas “without correcting the traditional boundaries”.
It may also be mentioned that the Cabinet Committee on Security has, in principle, approved the construction of border fencing and roads along the 1,643-km international border between India and Myanmar at an approximate cost of Rs 31,000 crore. About 10 km of fencing has already been completed near Moreh and work is underway to fence another 21 km of the border in other areas of Manipur.
The Government of India has already scrapped the Indo-Myanmar Free Movement Regime (FMR), which allowed people residing close to the border to venture 16 km into each other’s territory without any documents. It was implemented in 2018 as part of India’s Act East policy.
The Manipur government led by Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren has been asking the Central Government to remove the FMR since September 2023. Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren’s government contends that militants from Myanmar, illegal immigrants from Myanmar, and arms and drug smugglers have been exploiting the FMR, and crossing over to Manipur to create trouble including the ongoing violent conflict between the Kuki-Zomi militants and Meiteis since May 3 last year.
Besides Manipur, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, another Northeastern State bordering Myanmar, Pema Khandu said that the step will check the movement of inimical elements from across the border.
Many stakeholders oppose the decision of the India’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on February 6, 2024 to construct fencing along the entire 1,643 km Indo-Myanmar international border of which Northeastern State of Manipur shares 398 km and for immediate suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) on February 8, 2024.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma and many Mizo organizations have opposed both the fencing and the scrapping of FMR. Lalduhoma had said in Aizawl that his government does not have the authority to stop the Centre from erecting border fencing along the Indo-Myanmar border and scrapping the FMR between the two countries, but it would oppose both the moves. He said that the border with Myanmar in Mizoram was “unilaterally imposed” by the British without consulting the people and the Mizo-Zo-Chin community people living on both sides of the border do not accept the boundary.
Likewise, Kuki-Zomi organisations, namely, Zomi Council Steering Committee (ZCSC), United Zou Organisation (UZO) and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) have expressed discontentment over the central government’s decision to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) along the Indo-Myanmar border.
The Kuki-Zomi bodies said that scrapping the FMR is unfortunate and painful, as this would be breaking up the ties with their brethren, living on the other side of the border (i.e., Myanmar)
Consequently, the Government of India had decided to temporarily halt fencing work along the Indo-Myanmar border in Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur as per reports published by different national media houses over a month back and it evoked sharp reaction from organisations such as Coordination Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) and United Committee Manipur (UCM) among others.
According to the controversial report, a meeting with senior Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials concluded that fencing in the Kuki-populated hill regions will be delayed, while work in other border areas will continue as scheduled.
Earlier, in February 2024 Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had said the decision of the Centre to fence the Indo-Myanmar border needs thorough discussion before implementation. “We have to work out a formula on how to solve the issue for the people and prevent infiltration as well, because Nagaland is bordered by Myanmar, and on both sides there are Nagas,” Rio said.
Besides, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), the Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland – NSCN (IM) and the Eastern Naga People’s Organisation (ENPO) have also opposed both the fencing and the scrapping of FMR.
The United Naga Council (UNC) and Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) separately also have also expressed their opposition to Government of India’s decision to suspend the Free Movement Regime and construction of border fencing along Indo-Myanmar border.
The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) also had on February 8, 2024 urged reversing the decision made by the Government of India to revoke the abrogation of FMR and construction of fencing at Naga areas along Indo-Myanmar border.
“If the government is serious about dealing with the issue of illegal immigrants and committed to curbing the same, the government may invoke various mechanisms like updation of the National Registration of Citizen (NRC), Constitution of Population Commission, strict implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) etc. and more fully, effective checking of illegal immigrants rest with the sincerity of the enforcing security agencies under your government,” ANSAM Tribunal Member AC Thotso, speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club on February 8, 2024 said.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Tangkhul Students Union (ETSU) and Southern Tangkhul Students Union (STSU) have voiced their strong opposition to the Government’s decision to fence the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong and Ukhrul districts.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club on October 23, ETSU president Yarchuiso Kashung said that the Government should not fence the Indo-Myanmar border in Kamjong and Ukhrul under any circumstances.
Saying that they appreciate the effort being taken up by New Delhi to check the influx of illegal immigrants in the region, he added that scrapping Free Movement Regime (FMR) and permanently sealing Indo-Myanmar border, however, won’t curb influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar nor resolve the crisis besetting Manipur.
The Central and the State Government, with unlimited resources, should adopt effective ways to deal with the pressing issue by updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), constituting the Population Commission and strictly implementing Inner Line Permit (ILP) among other mechanisms, Yarchuiso said.
Maintaining that the existing Indo-Myanmar border is an imaginary line imposed on the Tangkhul Naga community who has been living across the border since time immemorial, he added that the faulty international border separates the brothers and sisters of Manipur.
Kabaw valley, which used to be known as the rice bowl of Manipur was ceded to Myanmar (now Myanmar), he said.
Further stating that any attempt to carry out the fencing project by force would be met with resistance, he reminded that they wrote to Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh through Phungyar MLA on September 20 last to halt the fencing process.
Nevertheless, amidst conflict of interests amongst stakeholders over the Indo-Myanmar Border fencing and scrapping of FMR, more strong protests are likely to erupt.
Senior Editor: Imphal Review of Arts and Politics
